On the attack: Bromsgrove Rovers' Sam Alsop drives forward in search of a leveller in Saturday's BGB Southern League Premier draw with King's Lynn.
Bromsgrove Rovers 1, Kings Lynn 1.
JOZSEF Jakab came off the bench to snatch a dramatic late equaliser - and he may have nudged his own manager back onto the sidelines.
Rovers' frustrating search for goals has not gone unnoticed and weeks of experimenting with numerous striking combinations have produced little joy.
But the Hungarian predator showed he could be the man to make them fire again.
Jakab reacted superbly to head home Dave Bridgwater's 91st minute free-kick, for his seventh goal in 14 appearances since joining from Solihull Moors.
A continuation of that scoring record is almost certain to put him at the top of the pecking order.
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And with Duane Darby's playing comeback imminent, Jakab could force the Greens' caretaker boss to wait a while longer before thrusting himself into action.
Darby admitted that Jakab has put himself back in contention for a starting spot.
He said: "We have lacked goals, and Jozsef has come on and scored.
"It speaks for itself, so he is pushing for a starting place now.
"He has been off the pace lately, but when I put him on today he did well.
"Credit to him, he's kept going when he has been out of the team."
Prior to Jakab's introduction as a 53rd minute substitute, it was the turn of yet another new striker Gary McPhee to try his hand at what seemed to be a lost art of scoring in a green and white shirt.
He could have, and perhaps should have made the perfect start.
With just six minutes gone, McPhee collected Chris Cornes' precise cross-field pass on the right flank before turning Gavin Hoyte inside out and striking a low shot straight at King's Lynn keeper Scott Howie.
But the Linnets enjoyed a wealth of possession, and should have gone in front through Joe Francis, who rattled the Rovers post from close range.
The winger pounced at the back post when Chris Duggan made a hash of clearing John Turner's cross and Ben Sedgemore blasted the follow-up over the bar.
Turner had a chance of his own when the ball fell to him on the edge of the six yard box but he couldn't keep his shot down.
Rovers went close through Bridgwater, who was given time and space on the edge of the box to shoot just past the post.
A wayward clearance from Karl Lewis prompted chants of "dodgy keeper" from the travelling support, but the Rovers custodian made sure they ate their words.
He rescued his side early in the second-half, denying Matt Nolan, who had beaten the offside trap to meet Jack Defty's pass.
But the Linnets' pressure eventually paid off when Turner took advantage of Bridgwater's slip to give them a 53rd minute lead.
Rikki Bains crossed from wide on the right, and Turner was left with a simple finish after Bridgwater miscued his clearance.
Defty had a chance to make it two moments later but he headed Turner's pinpoint delivery wide of the far post.
Rovers fought back and a matter of inches robbed them of an opportunistic equaliser.
Jakab saw his effort creep agonisingly wide, after he stuck out a toe to divert Matt Birley's wayward strike goalwards.
But the striker combined with Bridgwater at the death for a moment of sheer brilliance.
The Greens were awarded a free-kick around 30 yards from the King's Lynn goal after Sam Alsop was pushed in the back by Mark Camm.
Bridgwater stepped up and picked out Jakab, who shrugged off his marker and guided a firm header into the bottom corner.
It was a long time coming, but a worthy reward for a Rovers performance of true grit and work ethic.
This was a sentiment echoed by Darby, who was relieved to finally give his side's supporters something to cheer about.
He added: "The spirit and the endeavour out there today were tremendous.
"We've got in there, dug in and we have actually got a goal to give our fans something to cheer about.
"We've got some more big games coming up and hopefully they will keep that support up for us."
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